Hobby is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Middle English word "hobbe," which was used to refer to a small, mischievous sprite or goblin in folklore. The name Hobby was popularized during the Victorian era, when many unusual and fanciful names were chosen for children.
In literature, one of the most notable references to the name Hobby can be found in William Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew." In this work, a character named Grumio refers to his master as "my little mistress' hobbidance," which is believed to have contributed to the name's popularity.
While Hobby may seem like an unconventional choice for a given name today, it has been used throughout history and continues to be chosen by parents seeking unique and memorable names for their children. The name Hobby also has the advantage of being easy to spell and pronounce in multiple languages.
Statistics show that the name Hobby experienced a brief moment of popularity in the United States during the early 20th century, with nine babies being given this unique name in 1918 alone. Despite its initial appearance, however, Hobby has not maintained consistent popularity over time, as evidenced by the total number of births with this name across all years combined, which remains at just nine. This rare and distinctive name has certainly left its mark on history, even if it has not become a common choice for new parents in more recent times.